The cost of clearing up fly tipping could be far outpacing the amount of money generated through fines according to Powys Council estimates.

The figures were revealed in July by Powys County Council as part of a response to a request seeking information on the council’s total costs dealing with fly tipping in 2023, as well as the amount generated from fixed penalty notices issued for fly tipping in the same year.

The council responded by saying that figures for the full year were awaiting validation and publication by Welsh Government.

However, they were able to offer figures on the amount generated from fines between January and March in 2023, as well as an estimate on the costs for clearing fly tipping incidents in that same window.

The council revealed that they generated £1,250 from fixed penalty notices over fly tipping during that three-month period.

On the total costs associated with clearing up fly tipping, they added: “Powys County Council does not record costs associated with fly-tipping separately, as such the Council does not hold this information.

“We have estimated costs for collecting fly tipping based on the approximate size of each incident which are used to populate the fly-tipping returns which then in time get published on StatsWales."

This data for from April 2023 to end of December 2023 is awaiting publication.

“The estimated costs of clearance from January 2023 to March 2023 amounted to £6,151.”

Some groups in Powys have expressed fears that fly tipping incidents might increase with a lack of resources from recycling centres, such as recycling bins being removed from Llanidloes car park The Gro in April 2024.

The town’s mayor, Cllr Jamie Jones, told a town council meeting that he was not encouraged by a report from the town clerk that Powys County Council has suggested running fewer services adding fears that there would be an increase of fly-tipping in the area.